GO TO CLASS!!

I have just posted my grades for the fall semester and, unfortunately, lowered the grades for about 20% of the students in my classes – the highest percentage ever!  There were three ways students should have predicted this:

·       I announced it at the first class,

·       It is printed in my syllabus, and

·       At the beginning of every class I obviously take and record attendance.

Given that the class in Introduction to Critical Reading and Thinking, students should have critically thought about these three pieces of information and figured out that attendance was important!

As you are looking forward to the next semester, one major tip is to GO TO CLASS!  This should not be a daily choice.  You always go to class; you do not start the day deciding whether or not to do so.

One problem is that, when you miss class, it is difficult to go to the next class.  You missed the transition from class to class and feel slightly out of step with the rest of the students. This is important whether or not the professor takes attendance.  Except for a rare instance, you cannot pass a class if you do not attend!

Professors take attendance in a variety of ways.  My classes are between 25 and 30 students and I work to learn everyone’s name, so I have index cards that I sort into piles (present or not) at the beginning of each class and then transfer that information to an attendance record.  Others have an attendance sheet the students sign at the beginning of each or selected classes, have students log on to a digital program, submit some in-class work, simply run down the names on the class list, or some other system. 

As you are wrapping up this semester and looking forward to the next, if you are not happy with your final grades think about this one crucial part – how was your attendance?  If not good, start now to change your thinking about attendance for the next semester.

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on upper right link.

Leading up to Final Exams

My students and I are back from Thanksgiving break and heading into the last two weeks of classes and final exams.  The time will go fast and there is lots to do.  Some things students have to consider are:

·         When and where are your finals?

·         Do you have any back-to-back or several in one day?  If a professor teaches more than one section of the course he or she may be willing to let you take the exam with a different section.

·         Is each final cumulative or just on the final unit of the course?

·         Do you have all of the information you need?

·         What is your current grade in each course?  If it is right on the edge of either a higher or lower grade, you need to put extra effort into that class.

·         Make sure you are not missing any work from each course.

Many institutions had an entire week off, and it is often difficult to get back into the academic routine.  One thing you can do is review your goals for the semester in order to get a little extra motivation.  It is also helpful to attend some fun holiday activities sponsored by the college or university, but not too many.

This time period goes extremely quickly, so it is important to focus and work hard.  At this point easing off on your studies or pushing a little harder can make a difference in your grades.

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.  It is a great Christmas gift for a high school senior!